Aeroplane



H. L. PIERCE.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30. 1919,

1 9344, 3 1 4 Patented June 22, 1920.

Rani

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AEROPLANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 1920.

Application'filed October 30, 1919. Serial No. 334,455.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it'known that I, HARRY L. PIERCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Downin 'town, in the countyof Chester, State of ennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and.useful improvements in aeroplanes.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved aeroplane wherein provision is made for the pilot in the forward portion of the fuselage and for the gunner in the tail of the aeroplane.

Another object is to provide novel and improved means whereby the weight of the gunner and gun, in the tail of the aeroplane I will not interfere with the proper operation and guiding of the machine, and whereby a following enemy can be taken care of without the pilot having to take his attention from the operation of the machine, or necessitate the turning of the machine to meet or make an attack.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of anaeroplane made in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Referring'particularly to the accompanying drawing, 10 represents the fuselage of the aeroplane which has the upper and lower main sustaining planes 11 supported on the front end thereof, with the seat 12 for the pilot and all of the proper controls for the different mechanisms by means of which the aeroplane is guided upwardly and downwardly, or maintained on an even keel. Carried by the rear end or tail of the fuselage are the shorter upper and lower sustaining planes 13, and in this portion of the fuselage is arranged the seat 14 for the gunner and his gun.

to the upper side of the rear portion of the fuselage, in advance of the gunners seat, is

the vertical longitudinal fin 16, and hinged to this fin is the horizontally swinging rud der 17.

By this construction the weight of the gunner and his gun, in thetail end of the fuselage, are properly supported and half.

anced by the rear sustaining planes, thus relieving the pilot of the labor of watching the movements of' the gunner and of enemy planes which might be following with the intention of attacking from the rear.

The forward portion of the fuselage is supported by the wheeled running gear 18, while the rear end is supported by the wheeled running gear 19.

What is claimed is: 3

An aeroplane comprising a fuselage having front upper and lower sustaining planes and a-pilots seat therebetween, a vertical HARRY L. PIERCE.

Witnesses:

WM. 0. HANNUM, Jr., Geo. F. CUNNINGHAM.

Hinged to the rear end of the fuselage is the elevating rudder 15. Secured 

